One of my favorite pastimes as a student in New Orleans is to aimlessly wander around meeting new people, learning new things, and putting myself out of my comfort zone. A perfect place to do that is the Prytania Theatre, sitting pretty in the heart of uptown in all its glory. From old Hitchcock films to new A24 ones, the Prytania has it all.
My first experience left me wonderstruck, nostalgic for a time I never lived through: the pre-digital era of filmgoers, their post-show conversations and debates. This effectively marked the birth of a new ritual where I would semi-reluctantly trek down to Prytania Street to see whatever happened to be showing, especially on Wednesdays when the matinee is five dollars cheaper.
The films themselves aren’t the point. It’s the ritual of going to the theater that holds significance. It’s the “you buy the tickets, I’ll buy the snacks” of it all. As I sat in my red velvet throne, popcorn in hand, I began to ponder the importance of movie theaters; how, as a collective, we should all be inclined to partake in this seemingly lost art.
We should all make an effort to disconnect from the digital age in an attempt to reconnect with art, culture, our fellow man–to indulge in the niceties of half-priced popcorn and soda as healthy escapism from tumultuous current events. In short: I’m tired of hearing about the ‘loneliness epidemic’ when there’s an easy fix.
Movie theaters are essential in fostering human connection–we go with one another, we’ve all seen this one thing, and we can have endless discourse about that one thing. In their heyday, theaters brought novelty, magic, escapism, and encouraged community. Fostering a community is embedded in human nature. Humans are social creatures, we need a sanctuary away from the mundanity of life in order to sustain ourselves. That’s where third places come in.
First coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg in 1991, the ‘third place’ refers to any space separate from home and work, our ‘first and second places’. They act as a neutral ground where the stresses of routine fall by the wayside–they’re the birthplace of newfound friendships, entertainment, and are inherently democratic. They are free of any obligation and “host the regular, voluntary, informal, and happily anticipated gatherings of individuals,” Oldenburg wrote. Think of your local coffee shop, park, bar, library, and of course, movie theater.
In dire times where loneliness has evolved into a familiar friend and checking your phone feels like life or death, it is the third place that we cling to for peace of mind. I have found that when I go out intent on living spontaneously and meeting other people, I end up with a massive creative spark. I come home with stories I can harness for all sorts of different pieces. Cling to your sanctuaries. Go to the theater. If you buy the tickets, I won’t mind buying the popcorn.
